Private Records Policy

Historic records of private individuals, families and businesses form an important part of our holdings. Although these records have been created by private individuals, families, companies or other bodies, they contain much that is vital to understanding the history of the Scottish peoples and it is self-evident that they must be preserved. Some are accepted as a gift, some are purchased, but many are still held only as deposits (loans) governed by agreements with the owners or creators and so remain private property.

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Our private records policy[2] (PDF, 135 kB, new window) has been approved by the Keeper of the Records of Scotland. It supports that part of the National Records of Scotland’s mission statement which says that “We collect, preserve and produce information about Scotland’s people and history and make it available to inform present and future generations.”